The N.Y. Times’ Latest Insult to Our Soldiers

How many people caught Michelle Malkin’s piece, “All the News that’s fit to omit,” in Saturday’s Washington Times? Jim Dao’s unforgivable editing of a soldier’s letter to his girlfriend is proof that the NY Times is a wholly owned subsidiary of the anti-war movement, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the DNC.

From the NY Times account of Marine Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr:

“Another member of the 1/5, Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr, rejected a $24,000 bonus to re-enlist. Corporal Starr believed strongly in the war, his father said, but was tired of the harsh life and nearness of death in Iraq. So he enrolled at Everett Community College near his parents' home in Snohomish, Wash., planning to study psychology after his enlistment ended in August.

But he died in a firefight in Ramadi on April 30 during his third tour in Iraq. He was 22.

Sifting through Corporal Starr's laptop computer after his death, his father found a letter to be delivered to the marine's girlfriend. ''I kind of predicted this,'' Corporal Starr wrote of his own death. ''A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances."

Sounds
like the NY Times is showing some sympathy for the young and very fatalistic
hero, right? But the truth comes out, and the NY Times, through the story
at issue, is merely raising the anti-war lefts’ favorite question: is Iraq (or any war) worth the
lives of 2,000 Americans?

Here’s
what Corporal Starr believed and why he volunteered for a 3rd Combat tour in Iraq: 

"Obviously if you are reading this then I have died in Iraq. I kind of predicted this, that is why I'm writing this in November. A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances. I don't regret going, everybody dies but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq, it's not to me. I'm here helping these people, so that they can live the way we live. Not have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators. To do what they want with their lives. To me that is why I died. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark."

Those are the words of the American soldier. Those are the reasons that millions of Americans have volunteered and continue to volunteer to serve in the Armed Forces. That is why we train and bond and when necessary, fight.

My anger upon reading the Times article in the clear light of Corporal Starr’s words was and remains palpable. It’s John Kerry testifying to falsehoods that defamed his former brothers in arms in order to build a political career. It’s the college liberals who, even in the face of 9-11, would not consider volunteering to defend freedom themselves and could not fathom why anyone else would seek to defend freedom through force of arms and at risk to life. It's the journalists who think that because they have been to a war zone are somehow on the same par with those who actually wear the uniform.

Corporal Starr's family and friends were not at all happy about the Times disingenuous report. Read Michelle’s column. There’s more to the story. Caution: If you already have high blood pressure, take your meds before reading.